REGINA – Sometimes the greatest sound at a fair is the silence that finally lets every child feel like they belong.
For hundreds of Regina families, Thursday morning at the Queen City Exhibition was about much more than rides and games. It was about something many parents of children with diverse needs rarely get to experience: watching their entire family enjoy the fair together without fear of becoming overwhelmed.
The first-ever Sensory-Friendly Kidway Morning welcomed up to 200 children and young adults with sensory sensitivities, mobility challenges and other diverse needs to experience the midway with the music turned down, flashing lights switched off and Kiddieland rides operating quietly for an hour.
For Stacey Adelman, founder of the Joshua Tree Learning Centre, moments like these have deep personal meaning.
"I grew up, I had a younger brother with a disability, and since I was seven years old, I've really experienced the effect of spaces that aren't inclusive," Adelman said. "It really does affect the entire family."
That's why she says initiatives like Thursday's event matter so much.
"When I see initiatives like this that are accessible, that allow the whole family to come on out and be together as a family, I just think that's incredible."
Adelman says creating an inclusive city starts by making sure everyone has the opportunity to participate in the community's biggest celebrations.
"We are supporting a sensory-friendly opportunity for children and adults with diverse needs," she expressed. "It's an opportunity to make the Regina Exhibition more accessible to individuals and families who have diverse needs."
"We highly value accessible communities at Joshua Tree. It's very important to us that we are creating an inclusive city. We can do that by supporting initiatives such as this one that promote inclusivity."
The event was designed so families wouldn't have to worry about loud music, flashing lights or sensory overload preventing them from making memories together.
"We want to provide the opportunity for everyone to be able to come out and enjoy the exhibition because it is such a wonderful family event," Adelman said.
"By increasing accessibility for families, it allows the whole family to be able to participate in the event together. And I think that's so important."
The special morning was made possible through partnerships with REAL, SaskTel, West Coast Amusements, the Joshua Tree Learning Centre and many community organizations and volunteers. Families enjoyed free ride passes, stuffed animals, PAW Patrol characters, interactive performances and a midway thoughtfully adapted to create a welcoming environment for every guest.
While the Sensory-Friendly Kidway Morning was held only on Thursday, the support continues throughout the rest of Queen City Ex.
The Joshua Tree Quiet Zone is open daily from noon until 6 p.m. inside Queensbury Downs on the second floor in Ballroom A, giving anyone who feels overwhelmed a calm place to rest, cool off and recharge before returning to the festivities.
"We'll be here every day of the exhibition," Adelman explained. "Anybody can benefit from taking a time out from the exhibition just to kind of cool off, recoup, calm themselves, feel a little bit better and then come back and enjoy the festivities again."
The low-stimulation space welcomes neurodivergent individuals, children, families and anyone needing a break from the sights, sounds and excitement of the fair.
Adelman says inclusion isn't only about supporting people with disabilities. It's about strengthening the entire community.
"People of all needs, whether that's a physical disability, sensory differences, intellectual disabilities… we want to provide the opportunity for everyone to be able to come out and enjoy the exhibition."
She hopes families also discover the many supports Joshua Tree Learning Centre offers throughout the year, including counselling, speech and language therapy, equine therapy, yoga and other services that help individuals and families thrive.
For many parents, Thursday wasn't simply another day at the fair. It was the chance to watch their child smile without anxiety, to ride together without worry, and to experience something every family deserves: the simple joy of belonging.
"I just think that's incredible," Adelman exclaimed. "Huge shout out to REAL District. Huge shout out to the Exhibition Association for bringing community together like this. I just think it's incredible."
